Power efficient gas ion laser system, associated laser tube, and method

A modified gas ion laser system for use with a fixed electrical input power produced from an unmodified gas ion laser system, each of which systems is configured for use with a fixed electrical input power, said modified system comprising:

• a) a modified power supply having a particular power factor correction such that the modified power supply produces a given output power including an output voltage and an output current using said fixed input electrical power, which is substantially greater than an output power produced by an unmodified power supply without power factor correction and forming one part of said unmodified gas ion laser system;
• b) a modified gas ion laser tube configured for operation using said output voltage and said output current, said modified gas ion laser tube including
• i) an anode end mirror and a cathode end mirror defining a particular fixed cavity length therebetween, and which particular fixed cavity length is approximately equal to an unmodified cavity length of an unmodified laser tube forming part of said unmodified system, and
• ii) means for defining a laser bore between the anode and cathode end mirrors including a bore length having a modified active gain length sufficiently longer, including an additional length above an unmodified bore length used in the unmodified system which unmodified bore length receives the output power of the unmodified power supply at a particular current density, to accommodate the given output power of the modified power supply at a current density that is approximately equal to or less than said particular current density, the bore defining means including an anode end defining an anode end portion of said laser bore, said anode end portion including at least a portion of said additional length such that the anode end portion of the laser bore provides active gain.

A modified gas ion laser system for use with a fixed electrical input power produced from an unmodified gas ion laser system, each of which systems is configured for use with a fixed electrical input power, said modified system comprising:

• a) a modified power supply having a particular power factor correction such that the modified power supply produces a given output power including an output voltage and an output current using said fixed input electrical power, which is substantially greater than an output power produced by an unmodified power supply without power factor correction and forming one part of said unmodified gas ion laser system;
• b) a modified gas ion laser tube configured for operation using said output voltage and said output current, said modified gas ion laser tube including
• i) a cathode can defining a part of said laser cavity;
• ii) an anode end mirror and a cathode end mirror defining a particular fixed cavity length therebetween, which particular fixed cavity length is approximately equal to an unmodified cavity length of an unmodified laser tube forming part of said unmodified system, and
• iii) means for defining a laser bore between the anode and cathode end mirrors including a bore length having a modified active gain length sufficiently longer than an unmodified active gain length in the unmodified gas ion laser system, including an additional length above an unmodified bore length used in the unmodified system which unmodified bore length receives the output power of the unmodified power supply at a particular current density, to accommodate the given output power of the modified power supply at a current density that is approximately equal to or less than said particular current density, said bore defining means including a cathode end portion, and said bore defining means and said cathode can being assembled such that at least a portion of said cathode end portion is positioned within the part of the laser cavity defined by the cathode can.

A gas ion laser tube comprising:

• a) a first mirror and a second mirror defining a cavity length therebetween;
• b) means for defining a laser bore including an active gain length between the first and second mirrors including
• (i) an anode end defining an anode end portion of said bore length and configured to provide active gain substantially throughout the extent of said anode end portion along said cavity length, and
• (ii) a cathode end defining a cathode end portion of said bore length and said cathode end portion including a configuration for limiting erosion of the cathode end due to operation of the laser tube;
• and
• c) anode means associated with said first mirror and cathode means associated with said second mirror for producing an electrical discharge therebetween and within said laser bore.

A method for providing a modified gas ion laser system from an unmodified gas ion laser system each of which systems is configured for use with a fixed electrical input power, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a modified power supply having a particular power factor correction such that the modified power supply produces a given output power including an output voltage and an output current using said fixed input electrical power, which is substantially greater than an output power produced by an unmodified power supply without power factor correction and forming one part of said unmodified gas ion laser system;
• b) configuring a modified gas ion laser tube having a particular fixed cavity length which is established as a distance between a first mirror and a second mirror for operation using said output voltage and said output current and which particular fixed cavity length is approximately equal to an unmodified cavity length of an unmodified laser tube forming part of said unmodified system, said modified gas ion laser tube including a cathode can defining a part of said laser cavity;
• c) defining a laser bore between the first and second mirrors including a bore length having a modified active gain length sufficiently longer, including an additional length above an unmodified bore length used in the unmodified system which unmodified bore length receives the output power of the unmodified power supply at a particular current density, to accommodate the given output power of the modified power supply at a current density that is approximately equal to or less than said particular current density said laser bore further including an anode end defining an anode end portion of the laser bore having a configuration which provides for active gain substantially therealong, and said laser bore configured to include a cathode end portion;
• and
• d) assembling said bore defining means and said cathode can to position at least a portion of said cathode end portion within the part of the laser cavity defined by the cathode can.